# Flame Skimmer (*Libellula saturata*) The Flame Skimmer is a bright orange dragonfly that loves to fly near ponds and lakes. They are fun to watch as they zoom around and can even hover in the air! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 33 - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Flame Dragonfly ![Flame Skimmer](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/RubyMhawk.jpg&width=800) Photo: Regular Daddy, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RubyMhawk.jpg) ## Appearance The Flame Skimmer male is strikingly vivid reddish-orange, with matching wing venation that gives it a fiery appearance. Females are duller, yellowish-brown, often sporting amber-tinted wings with dark spots near the tips. This intense fiery red sets the male apart from most other dragonflies. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Libellulidae - **Genus:** Libellula ## Interesting facts - Flame Skimmers have 30,000 tiny lenses in their eyes, seeing almost all around them! - Male Flame Skimmers fiercely guard their watery territories from other dragonflies! - Their babies, called nymphs, live underwater for months before transforming into adults! - They are expert sun-bathers, warming up on rocks to get ready for high-speed flight! ## Special abilities - **Aerial Hunter:** Flame Skimmer can snatch flying insects mid-air because of their incredible speed and maneuverability, helping them catch food. - **All-Around Vision:** Flame Skimmer has massive compound eyes that wrap around their head, helping them spot prey or predators from almost every angle. - **Four-Wing Power:** Flame Skimmer can control each of their four wings independently, allowing them to hover, fly backward, and turn instantly. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 70-100 mm - **Size:** 45-65 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-90 days - **Flight Speed:** 35 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Tiny flying insects are their favorite snack, caught right out of the air! - **Age differences:** Nymphs eat aquatic invertebrates, while adults hunt flying insects. - **Primary Foods:** mosquitoes, gnats, flies, midges, small moths - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Yellow fever mosquito](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-fever-mosquito) (*Aedes aegypti*) — Helps control mosquito populations near water. - **Eaten by:** [American Bullfrog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-bullfrog) (*Lithobates catesbeianus*) — Adults can become a meal for hungry frogs. - **Eaten by:** [Bluegill](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bluegill) (*Lepomis macrochirus*) — Nymphs are a food source for fish in ponds. - **Hunts:** Common Midge (*Chironomus plumosus*) — An adult consumes many midges daily. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be careful not to disturb dragonflies when you see them near water. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Flame Skimmer? Compare wing shape and resting posture, where the eyes sit, body markings and the tail segments. Males and females can look very different in color. Dragonfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Flame Skimmer's wingspan? 70-100 mm ### How big is Flame Skimmer? 45-65 mm ### How long does Flame Skimmer live? 30-90 days ### How fast can Flame Skimmer fly? 35 km/h ### What does Flame Skimmer eat? Tiny flying insects are their favorite snack, caught right out of the air! ### Where is Flame Skimmer usually found? Wetlands ### How does Flame Skimmer hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Berry Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berry-botanic-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Boyce Thompson Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/boyce-thompson-arboretum) — Arizona, US · Botanical Garden - [Desert Garden Conservatory](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/desert-garden-conservatory) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jasper-ridge-biological-preserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Mesilla Plaza](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mesilla-plaza) — New Mexico, US · Park - [Old Town Albuquerque](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-town-albuquerque) — New Mexico, US · Neighborhood [View all places to see Flame Skimmer](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/flame-skimmer) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Flame Skimmer: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/flame-skimmer)